Today I wake up at about 6:40am. I am not a morning person. I can hear my housemate making coffee, and the sound of it percolating perks up my spirits for a moment. I roll over. I want to stay wrapped up in the warmth of winter blankets with curtains drawn. Yet I have too much to do to stay in bed much longer. I leave for New Zealand and begin traveling abroad, for two months, with no real plan and a whole lot of hopes in only four days. Wow.

I’m up, okay? Fine. I’m outta bed…..sigh. Time for holiday cards, blogging, expense categories, income records, client programs. My day gets started with a sudden technological frenzy, inspired perhaps by caffeine and the accumulating adrenaline of anticipation. I love traveling. Productive morning, sure. Peaceful, not at the moment….but I know it is possible.

I realize my head is spinning a wee bit with pondering wild adventures while attempting to be Ms. Organized here at home. I decide to get into my Yoga practice. The rest can wait.

In Half Moon, Ardha Chandrasana, I notice when I am present, content. My mind body and spirit all blossom and unfold into this pose with power, creating a peace that is just what I need in these final days. Then I notice my mind drift back to a check I needed to mail or my cat chewing on a plastic bag or my email inbox that keeps exploding all over the world wide web…and I stumble. I fall out of the pose, recovering the best I can into Warrior II, Virabhadrasana II, lucky that only my feline friend exists as witness. (Except now you all know, too.) Yet I stay committed to my practice for the next half hour, 45 minutes or so. I need this, my practice will humble me and serve me. Time on the mat will take away the temptation to rush, scurry, and push…it allows me to slow down enough to see my true priorities. My Yoga helps me acknowledge all my strengths, weaknesses, insights, true nature…without judgement. I am here, I am whole, and I am ready to return to the land of my laptop.

…I suppose it is worth mentioning that I may not blog again until Thursday or Friday…I am ready to conquer my to-do list today with contentment, compassion and conscious action. I hope you do the same.

Peace to all of you today. Live well.

When planning a vacation, it is a good idea to think ahead about how you will be paying for all of the fun you will be having. Long ago, traveler’s checks were the preferred method of payment. In today’s economy, however, it is usually best to pay for your vacation expenses with a credit card.

When you pay for your vacation expenses with a credit card, you will enjoy extra protection that is not found with traveler’s checks, personal checks, cash, or even debit cards. First of all, many credit cards offer insurance, such as travel insurance and free car rental insurance. Not only can this save you some cash, it will protect you in case of an accident.

Another benefit to using your credit card while traveling is that it is easy to cancel a card if it gets lost. If your cash is lost, you will likely never see it again. If your checkbook or debit card is stolen or lost, the money can be removed from your account before you even realize they are missing. With a credit card, on the other hand, you simply report that it is missing and you will only be held responsible for $50 of the charges placed on the card after it was lost or stolen. In some cases, you won’t be responsible for any of the expenses.

If you are going to use a credit card while on vacation, there are a few precautions you should take in order to make sure you are fully protected. For example, you should write down the 1-800 number for customer service as well as your account number, and you should keep this information in a safe place that is away from where you store your credit card. This way, if your card does come up missing, you will have the information needed to call and report it as missing.

It is also a good idea to contact your credit card company before traveling, particularly if you are traveling overseas. Most credit card companies have special fraud alert software that is triggered when purchases are suddenly made in an unusual location. By letting your credit card company know that you will be traveling, you can avoid the embarrassment of having a card denied or making it so that the merchant has to call to verify the transaction. Although you should still be able to ultimately use the card while away, a simple phone call ahead of time will eliminate this problem.

I hope everyone had a fantastic, long weekend.  As you know, I was away for Thanksgiving visiting my uncle in Niles, MI and then off to a quick jaunt to Chicago.  I wrote a bit about my trip here, if you’d like more details.  I took over 200 photos, many of which turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself:

Thanksgiving 2009 – Michigan & Chicago

My eating & exercise while I was away?  Not too bad, but not great, either.  Some highlights:

• We didn’t eat 3 meals a day, but when we did eat, we had heavier meals.  I’m hoping that the net calories work out to about the same that I would’ve normally consumed, but we’ll see for sure on the scale tomorrow.
• I didn’t track any points, but I  tried to make wise choices whenever we ate.
• We got tons of exercise, especially in Chicago.  On Saturday alone we walked over 2 miles, which was great.

So, that’s about it, as far as the Thanksgiving report.  I’m so glad we went away, and I’ll definitely go back again as many times as I can.

Getting back on track for the week:

1. I went grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s on Sunday and got tons of great, healthy food.
2. Sunday I made the quick soup that I posted about, along with the HG crock pot chili that I love (I don’t think I’ve ever posted that recipe, so I’ll do that soon).  I felt so organized by making two dinners like this that I can have for lunch and dinner all week.
3. I’m going to ease back in to working out this week.  I still have some congestion in the mornings and at night, but during the day I’m feeling back to normal.  Baby steps on working out is the best plan, I think.  So this week, it’s all about the Wii – Fit Plus and EA Sports Active.  I contacted Jimmy and told him I was going to slowly work my way back to the gym, and would probably put off our training sessions until the first of the year.  I don’t want to go too fast with working out and wear myself out, so I think this is a good plan.
4. Track everything.  Scale Warfare and I are still emailing our food journals daily, which is such an awesome way for both of us to stay accountable to someone besides ourselves with our food intake.
5. Catch up on all of your blogs!  I really missed reading them while I was away, but I really didn’t have computer access on the trip (other than my iPhone), so I’m going through some withdrawal. 

I hope everyone is doing well and embracing the holiday spirit that’s swirling in the air!

I would go

And wander far to

The end of the earth

The exotic and new

Where the skin is not the same

The culture is different

By train, plane

Land or sea

I’d go and experience the other

The ethereal, that which is so unlike me

And I would meet and greet and gather new friends

From far and wide and distant lands

To stay in one place is to stifle my lust to

Wander, to go, to know, to

Encounter the new

Home would be my suitcase

Bed would be the world

To adventure I go

I will return when there is nothing left to see

Hey guys! Long time no blog! 

Thank you all  for your wonderful comments on my impending move to Toronto. I have to say, I have never been happier about a decision in my life. Sure, it is scary as hell… but I hope you will all stay along for the ride- bloggie friends are the best!!  

So I’m not officially able to move to Canada. I am still waiting for my student visa (hint hint) that will allow me to stay there for the next 9+ months. But hopefully all goes well and it will arrive in the mail soon! 

So for now, I took a road trip with my Dad to Canada to visit with the boyf and see my future home. 
I didn’t take pics of everything, I was too busy! But here’s a recap of my 5-day stay.  

 We left on Wednesday morning not-so-bright and early at 4:30 a.m.

Road food included…

Plus a banana, an apple, half a bag of baby carrots, water and Zevia. Kept it pretty healthy!

Wednesday night Nick made me dinner- gnocchi with chicken, vegetables, a side salad and whole grain flax bread. Delicious- and healthy! Thanks, hun!

After I begged to go to the bar, because I had a hankering for some real Canadian beer… ok, it was just Blue but couple hours and a couple pitchers at Moes and we had a good time catching up =) 

Morning came far too soon, and we hit the road at 9am to visit my future home…
 

TORONTO! 

I grabbed a mandarin orange to go, and it took us about 2.5 h from Nick’s house, and we stopped on the way for a Canadian classic… 

Timmy Ho’s!! 

[I might get killed for posting that by Canadian bloggies, but that is what we call it here in the Ocean State ]

After a long adventure trying to find parking, we finally found a spot and walked Nick dragged me to lunch while I was drooling oogling at some of my favorite stores along the way (Lululemon! Mexx! H+M!)

I was so excited to be in Toronto for the first time!
 

Lunch was Fresh… 
 

After seeing it on Angela’s blog multiple times, I KNEW I had to go when I was in Toronto! Luckily where I will be living is 15+ minutes from all Fresh locations so I will not spend my entire budget on juice + baby buddah bowls. Because daaaaang was it good. 
 

Oopma loompa juice (grapefruit + pineapple + ginger + lemon) and baby buddah bowl. yumyumyum. 

For the next couple of hours we explored Etobicoke, the part of the city I will be living in. 

And we went to a super cool place… that I am not ready to reveal yet… because I want you all to guess! 

WHAT AM I DOING IN TORONTO?!?! 

besides chilling with this hottie…
 (Note: He does not really glow a la E. Cullen. It is just the lights at Fresh giving him the glimmer. And notice the juice? Yep, it has CARROT in it. Vegetable convert, I knew it.)

 Anywho… GUESS! GUESS! GUESS! I can’t wait to hear what you all think I’ll be doing…. and I shall reveal it soon! 

So the ride home was full of chatting + snacking…
I loves me some bulkbarn. Freal.

Crack x3- the ‘berry, fuzzy peaches (shared 1/2 the bag with the boy, saved the other half) and goji almond trail mix. Needed to get those superfood nutrients in!!

Dinner was spectacular.  Nick’s mom took us out to an incredible inn and we had such an amazing dinner. 

We started with a dry Reisling (my favorite white!) and two slices of multigrain baguette with herbed butter. Mmm…

And then dinner arrived.
Baked stuffed chicken with herbed cream cheese over a potato leek cake, with seasonal vegetables.

Oh my foodgasm.

Dessert was ok…

We ordered the creme brulee to share 
Which both Nick’s mom and I agreed was not up to par. I had one bite and a few of the warm figs compote. Figs are the key to my heart, truly.

And my dad ordered the  caramel apple cheesecake. Which was farrr superior. 
I mighta stolen two BIG bites. Fluffy and yum. 

No bar hopping for this chica thursday night… i was wiped! 

Friday morning I woke up and managed a 40-minute run  around the park before getting ready to head to Toronto, AGAIN. We hadn’t planned on going two days in a row but an unexpected, and very exciting engagement came up and we had to go back  

Her breakfast on the go-
 Low fat berry bran muffin, nonfat pumpkin chai latte from Coffee Lodge. 

His breakfast-

Three spicy chicken wings, and a breakfast sandwich.
Guess he’s not a complete convert. Oh, well.

The day was a-freaking-mazing… more details to come soon. 

I had the most incredible falafel pita for $3.49 at this little place in Etobicoke…

and tried this middle-eastern drink, which is basically a mango smoothie in a can. Looks sketchy, tastes incred. 

We drove home, stuffed silly and watching the beautiful Ontario sunset…
And spent half the time looking for Nick’s phone stylus I lost somehow in the car… whoops.

Dinner was exactly what I was craving- even though I have no idea how I still had an appetite after all the food we ate during the day (believe me, it was ALOT)…

A big ol’ pint of Guinness and an Irish bar favorite (lol)…
Salmon and Leek pie and grilled veggies. Love it.

We spent the night hanging out with Nick’s friend Kelly, with $2 Rye and ginger price that can’t be beat. Well, maybe it can… they were kinda tiny. It was fun, nonetheless.

I had some time to sleep in on Saturday morning, I cooked Nick up a nice french omelet with cheese and I had two poached eggs on toast with some coffee.

Then I convinced Nick to go for a run… he made it 20 mins, I made it 30 and then we showered and hit the road yet AGAIN… this time, to London! 

I convinced Nick and his parents to go see one of my favorite musicals…
Avenue Q! Viewer discretion advised. This is NOT a show for young children… or the 85 year old woman who almost had a heart attack sitting next to my dad. heh.  

Hilarious, just as good as the first time I saw it, 4 years ago! Nick liked it too, even though he was CONVINCED he did not like musicals. Toldya you’d like this one

Lunch on the way to the show was NOT something I’d normally eat…
But who can pass up a Chubby Chicken and rootbeer? Not I. When in Rome… and, it was quick. 

After the show we stopped at the indoor farmer’s market and I had a mix of heart attack and foodgasm all at once. Nick almost needed to restrain me. But he bought me dried figs instead, and I fell in love with him all over again.

I left with some Maple glazed soynuts, chia seeds, fuzzy peaches for Nick and CUPCAKES!!!

Gingerbread is mine, rainbow is the boy’s.  

It was foodie HEAVEN.

Then I went further into foodie paradise when we stuffed our bellies with miso soup, tempura, and copious amounts of raw fish…

Sooo delicious. Plus loads and loads of green tea.

The night ended with beer, comedy, and cupcakes.  What could be better? 

Sadly I had to leave on Sunday… it was a long, tiring trip with a two hour wait at the border… food was mainly fruit, quiznos and these babies…
 Home= Detox time.  

All in all, it was a great trip, once again. I had a great time eating amazing food, seeing my love, and my new city.  

I am SO excited for my new life!! Just need to get through finals first… 

xo

K

Part 1 of the recap

Part 2 of the recap

On Thanksgiving morning we went to the Astoria Column, which is a 125ft monument that you can climb up.

There’s 164 steps up to the top.  I didn’t stop but by the time I got to the top my legs were on fire.  On fire like Taylor Swift’s career right now.  Not on fire like Tiger Woods and all that drama.

Finally!  No more stairs.

It was a really foggy day so we didn’t get to see much.

Looking down.

I’m only happy because we’re going down.

It was a beautiful day on Friday so we took the dogs for another walk.  Because no one likes a fat yorkie…

Driving back to Seattle to catch our flight I took a couple car pics because the quality doesn’t get much better than taking pictures out of a moving car.  And I’m all about quality photography.

The Longview Bridge.

Mount Something or Rather.  Raineer, Baker, Bachelor, I don’t know.  Geography isn’t my bag, baby.

Marnia Mania at the aiport.  She was mad at me the whole day because I didn’t book her a first class seat.  diva.

EATING 101

One of the popular holiday eating tips is to get rid of the leftovers right away so you don’t keep eating them.  Have Thanksgiving dinner once, not 3 days in a row.  If the food’s there, we’ll all end up eating it.

So do the opposite with healthy foods, like vegetables.  If they’re available and staring their soon to perish faces at you, you’ll probably eat them.  Even if you don’t feel like it, you don’t want to waste them so you end up eating them.  which is the point.

This will probably mean more grocery shopping… at least once a year week or whatever. I hate to groc shop but I find that when I have a fridge full of veggies, I eat them more often.  If for no other reason than I’m being cheap and don’t want to throw them out.

Note: If there’s a vegetable you hate, don’t buy it.  Even if the store’s offering free diamond tennis bracelets with it.  You won’t eat it, and it won’t become any more appetizing as it rots.  There’s not too many vegetables that I don’t like except mushrooms so guess what’s not in my kitchen right now?  some good candy.  and mushrooms.

I loves how she writes on O.P.P:

I hop on a 21+ hour flight tomorrow to Guam! I’ll be there for a month + a couple days for a cousin’s wedding / to spend the holidays with my family. Right now I’m mentally preparing myself. Traveling gets mad stressy. The anxiety & stress always starts with packing, I usually pack too much, or too little of what I need. I’ve made a visual outline for myself: What to pack? I’m so glad I don’t have to pack much clothing, since I have a a whole closet full of clothes back home. Let’s just hope I can still squeeze my ass into em! As far as packing goes, less should be more:

Media
* Cellphone & charger
* Digital camera & charger
* Video camera & charger
* Journal/notebook and pen
* Laptop & charger
* Reading material

Medical
* Extra pair of eyeglasses
* Pain reliever
* Prescription medicines

Money & Documents
* Cash/Credit cards
* Driver’s license
* Frequent flyer/frequent guest cards
* Paper airline tickets or e-ticket confirmation
* Passports and visas, if necessary
* Your itinerary

Miscellaneous/Extras
* Anti-bacterial wipes
* Keys
* Lint roller
* Plastic Zip-Loc bags
* Q-Tips
* Sunglasses

Clothing and Accessories
* Socks
* Sneakers/Workout clothes
* T-shirts / Undershirts (So I can change on the plane)

Sundries
* Makeup bag
* Hair shit (curling iron, hurr product)
* Deodorant
* Makeup remover
* Facial cleanser
* Moisturizer/SPF
* Feminine products
* Toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash/floss

Wow….. I pack all my shit & now my apartment is completely empty!

Yes. At least a walleye did in 1997 according to the Potawatomi Inn at Angola, Ind.’s, Pokagon State Park. The story at the Inn goes that “[a] walleye was found in the summer of 1997, floating in nearby Crooked Lake. It had a bluegill lodged crossways in its mouth and in one gill. Unable to swallow or dislodge it, the walleye drowned to death. While it did not make a good ‘catch’ [f]or a frying pan, this beautiful fish did provide something … A good fish story, and a true one at that!” You can see the doomed walleye and the equally doomed bluegill displayed on the wall of the Potawatomi Inn right across from the aquarium.

© J. L. Bates and chezjlb.wordpress.com, 2009.  See Copyright Page for complete information.

Today I love…

1. Catching up with A again

2. The quaintness of New England

3. R athai’s beautiful house

4. Traveling on my own, domestically

5. Minnesota! Omg, the people are SO ridiculously nice there! o_O

I flew into Mumbai from Delhi on Saturday (11/14).  My brother did not make it in, until very late that night.  Because of this, we just rested and woke early to explore the city.  Our hotel was in the Colaba neighborhood very near to the harbor.  We walked down to the Gateway of India which is right near the Taj Mahal hotel which was attacked by terrorists just over a year ago.  In this area and throughout much of Mumbai, we were hounded by touts, beggar kids and deformed people.  We did our best to ignore them, but every now and then you find yourself answering one of their questions.  I believe this is because, as a westerner we find it difficult not to be rude to other people.  In this way, as in many poor countries, the touts and beggars are using our courtesy against us.  So as not to encourage the behavior, we did not give out any money.

From the Gateway of India, we followed a walking tour I had in my guidebook.  We went by the Sailor’s Home, Majestic Hotel, Institute of Science, the Prince of Wales Museum, the University of Mumbai, the Ambassador hotel and a large park where everyone was playing cricket.  It was hot and considering, it did not smell much different than most big cities which are on the ocean.  Nevertheless, the traffic is crazy and there dogs and people everywhere.  For some reason, Erik thought he’d be alright wearing pants, even though I warned him.  Sure enough, after about 2 hours of walking, he could not believe the heat and we headed back to our hotel.  On the way, we went inside the Taj Mahal Hotel (the Taj) to check it out.  The hotel is air conditioned and has a few high-end shops.  There are also nice restaurants and a great looking pool.  It is a typical 5 star hotel, made even more famous since the terrorist attacks last year.

After Erik changed, we played some cards on the rooftop of our hotel, then went down to Leopold’s Cafe to eat some food.  Leopold’s is a landmark restaurant in Mumbai where they say all travelers find themselves at one point or another while visiting.  This cafe was also attacked last year, and a bullet hole can still be seen in the marble at the front entrance.  The place was packed, while the food was multi-cultural and very good.  After eating, we haggled with some street vendors over various souvenirs and ate some street food.  We eventually ended up back at the Taj drinking beers.  There we met some nice Indians, who were working there, who told us a little about the city and where else we should go.  We tried to play some more Gin Rummy, but by the time we had dealt the first hand, a waiter came over and told us, this was not allowed.  We later found out that it is illegal to play cards in public in India because everyone assumes you are gambling.  That night, Erik and I did some bar-hopping and experienced the fairly low-key Colaba neighborhood nightlife.  We were surprised that we did not run into more westerners or backpackers.

The next day, we hired a car to drive us around Mumbai and show us some more sites, after talking down a tout near the Gateway of India.  He first drove us to the  Dharavi slum, which is the largest in all of Asia.  I have read that it has quite a significant economy going, producing various textiles and reworked metal among other things.  We really only went to the edges, but it is what you would expect a slum full of people to look like.  There we saw, a huge center for laundry, Dhobi Ghats, where out in the open amid concrete basins, they hand wash clothes, then hang them to dry.  I was told this is where much of the laundry of the city is done and was probably where the laundry I turned into my hotel had been sent.

 
From Dharavi, we went by Sassoon Dock, Mumbai’s Ghandi museum, The Oberoi Hotel, Chowpatty Beach, Mahalaxmi Temple, and Nehru Park on Malabar Hill.  We also went by the Parsi Tower of Silence, however, tourists are not allowed in.  When the Parsis die, their corpses are laid out here in the open for vultures to feast on.  After the tour, Erik was still feeling jet lagged, so we went in for a nap.  That night, we again went out, dodging the people and families sleeping on the streets along with the rats and dogs.  We went in fairly early though, because the next morning we were taking a 4:55 am flight down to Goa.

Goa is a famous beach area of Indian and about an hour’s cheap flight south of Mumbai.  The beach town was made famous back in the 60s and 70s when hippies came here along with their drug and peace-loving culture.  Goa is probably the most liberal are of India, which is a very conservative country.  As so, it’s okay to play cards in public and show some skin with your bathing suit.  From the airport, we had a crazy 45 minute taxi ride to our hotel on Calangute Beach.  The driver made Erik fairly nervous, showing him third-world driving at its best, passing at high speeds, having close calls with oncoming traffic.  I thought it was pretty entertaining.  Arriving so early in the morning, Erik and I had an entire day to kill.  We checked into our hotel, which thankfully let us into our room right away and also had a pool.

Erik and I went straight to the beach, which is very large with nice beige sand.  The  water is a little brown and brackish, probably due to a few rivers flowing out nearby.  We walked south along the beach and were offered jet ski rides, boat rides, parasailing, clothes, drugs and food.  There were all kinds of Indians; tourists and townies hanging out, enjoying the beach and the boats, with most fully clothed from head to toe.  We walked into a restaurant and had an early lunch, then proceeded to explore the town.  The town is a beach town, but it’s India, so there are stores, restaurants and markets along with cows, dogs, chickens, touts and people all over.  Needless to say, Goa is not the party town Erik and I had imagined.

  North of our hotel we saw a lot more Europeans enjoying their holidays.  We stopped into a few places for drinks, but realized we had both developed the “Delhi Belly.”  I would describe this condition as a mild case of food poisoning, which we probably developed from by eating street food or drinking melted ice.  Fortunately, I had some antibiotics with me.  Because of the “Delhi Belly”, we did not stay out too late that night, but definitely got a good feel for Goa.

The next morning, we went swimming in the Indian Ocean and our hotel pool, enjoying the warm tropical weather.  We then checked out of our hotel and took another crazy taxi to the airport for our afternoon flight back to Mumbai.

We stayed ne last night in Mumbai where Erik had used his hotel points to book us at the 5-star JW Marriott on Juhu Beach.  There we hung out at the pool and checked out the beach where very few people were swimming.  We ate some great food and saw many rich Indians.  With a nice sleep, the next morning, we jumped on an Emirates flight over to Dubai in the UAE.

These pictures are from the past week that my lover boy and I spent in Astoria, Oregon, with my family for Thanksgiving.  Part 1 is here.

One day we drove 10 miles to Seaside which is like Laguna Beach: a cute little touristy beach town that is kinda dead in the winter.  There is one difference though.  Seaside has a massive love affair with candy, salt water taffy, and fudge, and sells a butt ton of it.  People in Laguna Beach are way too health conscious for that; their big seller is probably wheat grass smoothies or soy popsicles.

I swear every other store on the boardwalk was a candy store.  I obviously thought I was in some level of heaven (I’m not a Mormon and don’t seriously believe in levels of heaven; I’m with the big JC) because I love candy and anything that will rot my pearly whites faster.

A massive fudge log that I bet went as a turd for Halloween.

Jay is happy because he IS a kid in a candy store.  We ended up buying some spicy cinnamon bears and a couple truffles which complemented our lunch of burgers and fries perfectly.

Supposedly this is the world’s largest gummi bear weighing in at 4 lbs.  Player,  please.  I could eat a 4 lb gummi bear for breakfast. 

We went to Sam’s Seaside Cafe for lunch.  Mostly because my nickname is Sam.  But I also respond to Killer and Turd Log.

This probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone but Seaside is by the sea.

So we had to go see it.  See the sea in Seaside, haha.  im funny. not.

I think these fine ‘gents are Lewis and Clark, the explorers whose expedition laid much of the groundwork for the Westward Expansion of the United States.  You didn’t know I was such a history buff, did you?

 Ok, I completely copied all of that from Wikipedia.

My own explorer… of shopping malls and discount stores.

After getting our fill of historical smartness, we hit up the arcade.   Because where else would 2 grown adults hopped up on sugar go?

Kickin’ it old school with the NBA JAM game.  Jay is nearly 9 years older than me so he was probably playing this game back in the day trying to impress all the ladies while I was still in diapers.  But as I like to remind him, he’ll be the next in diapers.  adult ones.

A new game, instead of playing the race car game, is to take pictures of yourself.  Bonus points if it’s somewhere socially awkward.  like the little boys room.

We are winners after all!!!

On to the big Turkey day…

My one thanksgiving shot.  Notice there is no food and an abundance of ugly chairs.  I can say that because when my parents bought the condo, it was already fully furnished and decorated in a Chinese/Oriental style, which in this case, is not cute.  My mom would like to redo it in a beach cottage style eventually.

My little brother Matti and his girlfriend Marlie holding our dog Marni. that’s M cubed.

Matti has a miniature weiner dog named Nancy who weighs 7 lbs.  Her and Marni fight and go at it like they’re castmembers on the Real Housewives of Orange County.

The finale, part 3, will be next so don’t be a weiner and miss it!

London - Iowa

Beautiful London is touring in the Chicago area for a limited time guys so be sure to see her while she is there. If you have any question please make sure to give us a call or go to her profile page under the candies tab. London is waiting to see you now, don’t delay!

There’s More To San Simeon

Than A Castle!

By Rona Edwards

When I was a kid, we’d travel up the coast to Carmel and always stop at Hearst’s Castle in San Simeon. I remember the castle, and its huge towers along with the gorgeous view of the coastline. Mostly, I remember my mom ooing and awing about the furnishings when all I wanted to do was jump into the Grecian pool. But I was a kid then…and now as an adult I ventured on up to San Simeon not only to revisit the castle but to explore the area, which turned out to be much more than a circle of motels and a beach. This time would be different because my traveling companion would be my dog, Bizou, a miniature French poodle who was delighted to be on a road trip with me. I always carry his water bottle and some treats for him, while keeping one of his precious play toys near him for comfort while driving. I had his favorite pillow bed decked out in the backseat for him to lay on for the three and a half hour plus drive.

We made the prerequisite stop in Santa Barbara at La Super Rica Taqueria on Milpas Street. You can spot this unassuming restaurant by the line of people streaming out its doorway; otherwise you might drive right past it. The #7 – tri-tip tacos with onions and peppers along with the tamal de verduras – chayote, potato, corn, zuchini and cheese are my favorites. Afterwards, I took Bizou for a short walk around the block and stopped at the Trader Joes by the freeway to pick up more dog treats (and some human treats) before departing northward.

Driving up the coast is the best way for me to decompress. The ocean waters and blue skies make me forget the stress of Los Angeles. With good music on the mp3, Bizou sleeping in the back seat, and the never-ending views, I felt like I had been away for days and it had only been a few hours.

Our next potty break came at Arroyo Grande just below Pismo Beach. There’s a little park there that Bizou loves to walk in and I get to indulge myself at Doc Bernstein’s Ice Cream Lab located on the main drag of this quaint antique town. Why is it called a Lab? Because on Wednesday nights the public is invited to come, learn how to make ice cream and then concoct their own creation. Whatever flavor wins becomes a flavor in the ice cream parlor for the next week. Some of those flavors include Champagne Confetti Fudge, Marsh Potatoes and Gravy (marshmallow ice cream with chocolate toffee butterscotch chips and caramel cups) and Chai Cherry Blast, etc.

We arrived mid afternoon in San Simeon and stayed at The Morgan right      on the circle before Hearst’s Castle. The Morgan, owned by the Broughton Hotels, a favorite of mine, is dog friendly. They have a wonderful enclosed pool with the roof exposed and it’s only a short walk to the beach. The hotel used to be the Orchid but has been totally remodeled in a “W” sort of way. Named after the architect of Hearst’s Castle and a woman ahead of her time, Julia Morgan, there are blue prints on the walls illustrating her work for the castle. The hotel offers plush bedding (Bizou jumped right up and was very comfortable) plus they provide a continental breakfast, cheese and wine tasting on Friday nights, and even have a spa with massages and facials available. I had one of the most relaxing and best warm stone massages ever so I highly recommend it.

Being so close to the beach, Bizou and I ventured off after unpacking to romp on the beach at sunset. Then I put him to bed and ate at the hotel’s restaurant, El Chorlito, serving delicious traditional style New Mexican food and kickass margaritas. You can also substitute tofu for any meat or seafood dish. I chose to eat in the bar area – dimly lit, brightly colored south of the border charm with wood beams and gas light lamps illuminating the Mexican watering hole. The crab enchilada and chicken taquitos were muy bueno with no filler, and was followed by my favorite New Mexican treat, sopapillias.

After a sumptious night’s sleep of listening to the waves of the night ocean, Bizou and I had our breakfast and then ventured up the coast to Piedras Blancas, home of more than 7,500 elephant seals. During the winter months, you can see the females beached and giving birth while their mates eye next year’s conquest. What a sight to behold and is a must for anyone coming to this area. The docents are very helpful and answer any question you may have about these odd looking mammals. I was told I had just missed two babies being born. As we watched the male seals posturing to gain the attention of the females, one docent told me they are not monogamous creatures.

I took Bizou home from his day with the seals and headed off, solo, to Piedras Blancas Light Station, six miles north of San Simeon. I’ve always loved lighthouses and Piedras Blancas, first illuminated in 1875 and under restoration today, is not only historic but in a beautiful setting and well worth the tour. With no beacon on top and now governed by the United States Department of the Interior, volunteers, dressed in Victorian garb, guide us through the different buildings, explaining the architecture, foilage and details of the lighthouse.

For lunch, it was Lin’s located in Cambria, a quaint artist’s community that has grown by leaps and bounds since I was there last. Lin’s is famous for their meat and vegetarian pot pies which are probably the best I’ve ever had as well as their famous Olallieberry pie. The Linn family moved to the central coast to become farmers in 1976. By 1985, they opened Linn’s Fruit Bin, a real country fruit stand and pie making business. Using the little known Olallieberry, it became the cornerstone of their success. First developed in 1949 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture at Oregon State University by crossing a Loganberry with a Youngberry, the result was called the Olallie, a Native American word – meaning blackberry. Physically the Olallieberry looks like a classic blackberry but genetically it’s two-thirds blackberry, one-third European raspberry.

Near the restaurant is Linn’s Easy As Pie café and Linn’s Farmstore where you can take the pies home, wrapped in newspaper that keeps them frozen up to seven hours. Buzzing with galleries, shops and restaurants, Cambria and its environs is also home to a budding coastal wine industry. My first stop was Moonstone Winery owned by Todd Clift (whose card says Grape Stomper on it) and has only been open since 2007. Located in the heart of Cambria, it offers a nice respite where the tasting is five dollars (seven if you want to keep the glass). Todd worked for four years at the other known winery in the area, Harmony Cellars before venturing out on his own. Moonstone and Harmony Cellars present distinct chardonnays, pinot gris’, zinfandels, sangioveses, syrahs and barberas that could someday rival their neighboring wine consortiums. Plus they’re just plain charming to visit. Bizou came with me and sat very patiently as I tasted at the Harmony Cellars and chatted with fellow wine tasters amidst the gardens and coastal countryside views. At Harmony, you can get six tastings for three dollars (seven if you want to keep the glass). Housed in a country barn like style, with a gazebo and views of the valley, Harmony is located in the town of…yes, you guessed it, Harmony just south of San Simeon. I liked their wine so much I joined their club.

After our sunset walk on the beach, Bizou was exhausted and I headed to Manta Rey on the east side of the hotel circle where seafood is king. Owned by Miguel De Alba, who worked as a bag boy at a local market while starting his restaurant, the food is continental and elegant with a wine list spotlighting the region. The ambiance is one of a seafood shanty and the wine list is definitively Central Coast and Santa Ynez Valley. I ordered the full flavored and very tasty Lobster Crusted Sea Bass whose panko and flour mixed with lobster gave a new take on the old standard breading. The dish has a rich saffron butter sauce but is surprisingly light. For dessert, Miguel wanted me to try the Chocolate Decadence – flourless chocolate cake topped with chocolate ganache and raspberry sauce. But it was the Orange Ice Cream (not sherbet or sorbet) made with real oranges that was the winner. Manta Rey offers early bird dinners as well starting at $11.95.

While I think San Simeon is more than just a castle, I still made a reservation to visit it anyway. I hadn’t been there since I was a kid and it was very interesting to me to see it from an adult’s perspective. I wasn’t disappointed. I noticed things that I wouldn’t have before as a child and because of my background in the movie industry as well as my fascination with the beginnings and history of Hollywood, it felt like I had been there for the first time. I was in awe with the decorative styles and the stories that were told. The ornate fixtures and opulence of an era now forever gone haunted the grounds. One thing that I found fascinating was that the Hearst family gifted the Castle to the state of California but maintain the largest single-source supplier of free-range, all-natural, grass-fed and grass-finished beef, fully sustainable Hearst’s Ranch. While at the castle, order the beef, sauces and dips from the Ranch. Personally, I love their smoked ketchup.

 Another walk on the beach with my boy who enjoyed all the accoutrements of the hotel and surroundings followed by one last night of dining pleasure before heading back down to the hustle bustle of Los Angeles. This last night I chose to eat at Black Cat Bistro in Cambria. Owned by a former film and television producer, Deborah Scarborough, it is described as an American Bistro and Wine Bar and serves up such fare as prime beef filet, cocoa rubbed over roasted rack of elk, stuffed pheasant, pancetta wrapped pork tenderloin, salmon and ahi tuna. The food and produce is seasonal so you never know what the menu might highlight. This is definitely one of the best fine dining restaurants on the central coast.

Sad to leave but feeling fulfilled and yes, restored, Bizou and I packed up, had our breakfast at The Morgan, and stopped one more time at Lin’s to pick up our take home pies where we partook in a final Olallieberry lemonade. We drove through the Paso Robles Countryside, stopped by one more winery, Four Vines, bought a beautiful Syrah, and enjoyed the countryside one last time before heading down the ramp of the 101 towards Hollywood. Both of us had a vacation, yet we learned a lot about San Simeon. Where else can you get elephant seals, lighthouses, wineries, the beach, gorgeous sunsets, charming towns and shops, and award-winning California cuisine? The castle was definitely the icing on this trip but the filling was so much more.

Photography by Rona Edwards. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this article or photos should be used without author’s consent. Copyright 2009 Rona Edwards.

If you got it more than 15 years ago you will have to apply for a new one using Form DS11Adult passports have a validity of 10 years unless issued in emergency situations as a temporary replacement This means that you can renew by mail up to 5 years beyond its expiration dateThe last two criteria are the condition of the passport and the name that is in it Renewing expired passports requires you to send them in along with the application However damaged passports are not acceptableEither your name has to be the same as that in your expired passport or you must be able to document the change This is done with an official document such as a marriage certificate or court orderHow to Renew an Expired PassportIf you meet all the requirements listed above you can renew your passport by mail You first need to download and complete application Form DS82 Make sure that all the data you enter is correct Send the form along with your expired passport two passport photos payment for fees and legal proof of your name change if that is the case to the address provided on the application

(image via ffffound)

I am seriously craving for an awesome piece of cake. AWESOME. I need a nice quiet outing to a little dessert cafe in some quiet little corner of Singapore. Anyone in?

xoxo

The title reflects something I have been thinking about lately, which is just the fact of traveling. I know most of you did some traveling over the Thanksgiving break. Personally, I drove to and from my college and home, which is more or less over four hundred miles one way. And with all of this back and forth and driving on the pavement, I began to contemplate just how much land we covered and how far we went.

Though what I am really trying to talk about is how we can go all these places and distances, yet the core of us remains the same. Yes, I know that is a rather obvious statement, but let’s really look at this. I mean, it’s that after you drive through rain and snow, over hills and through tunnels, you emerge unchanged. I am not saying that change has to happen or even if it’s a good or bad thing, only the fact that nothing happens.

Look at it like this: Birds migrate by instinct yes, but they still gather experience for the next trip back and following year. The whole way they avoid dangers or become scarred by the elements. The birds find the best routes or the best strategies in their travels. They also figure out new things to do to keep alive. By saving this knowledge they become better for it, since most of these birds live quite longer than those that do not.

Given this is strictly an animal example, and humans are mostly above such a comparison, yet I think it is valid to a point. The animals take away knowledge and change and adapt to what they learn on their trip. We do to a certain extent, seen through which highway we take or which route is faster or with the better gas along it. Though I am speaking of how we do not take away things that actually effect how we live in some way.

Personally, I have no idea what should be taken away or changed or learned or anything like that. It is merely something I feel that should happen. The landscape rushes by and I feel like our souls should as well. The land ripples with hills, up and down and we too should come up from stagnation to a higher plane. This may sound fanciful, but it is something to contemplate right?

Well, I am going to rest my head now for a bit, since there has been a lot of roving within the past week.